Government

Lawyers venturing into politics is not a new concept. But how much influence do those office-seeking or campaign-supporting
attorneys and judges have on the political process, and does it really matter if people have a law degree as part of their
background?

The Office of the Indiana Attorney General filed its appellate brief Monday asking the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals to lift
a preliminary injunction against parts of the new abortion-provider law cutting public Planned Parenthood funding.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday that it’s closed its investigation into whether federal criminal civil
rights charges should be filed against the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers involved in the arrest of
Indianapolis teenager Brandon Johnson. Johnson claimed officers used excessive force while trying to arrest him.

A four-person search committee continues reviewing applications of individuals who have expressed interest in becoming the
next Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council director. About 20 people have applied to take over the post after the agency’s
current leader, Stephen Johnson, retires Aug. 1.

The ex-East Chicago mayor hit with a $108 million racketeering judgment because of public corruption wants a federal bankruptcy
court to dismiss a civil complaint against him that questions whether the judgment is dischargeable under bankruptcy code.

A federal judge has approved a proposed settlement agreement in a class-action lawsuit against the Indiana Family and Social
Services Administration alleging that an agency policy that doesn’t allow certain Medicaid waiver enrollees to apply
for services other than what’s been approved by their case manager is in violation of federal Medicaid law.

The Indiana Court of Appeals ruled an Anderson City Court judge didn’t wrongly reassign a police warrant officer from
his courtroom because the two didn’t share an employee-employer relationship that would allow for a suit under the Indiana
Wage Claim Statute.

The First Amendment rights of Indiana inmates aren’t being violated by a ban instituted by the Department of Correction
on advertising for pen-pals and receiving materials from resources that allow people to advertise for pen-pals, the 7th Circuit
Court of Appeals held Tuesday.

The Indiana Department of Child Services is teaming up with the Indianapolis Colts and The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
for an event for Indiana foster families July 20. Licensed foster families will receive free admission and will be able to
visit with the Colts’ mascot and get autographs from Colts cheerleaders.

An OmniSource executive says the company wouldn't have made the settlement with the Marion County prosecutor if it knew
more than a third of the cash wouldn't be going to Indianapolis police for training programs.

Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller has filed a civil suit against Beverly S. Elliott, LaGrange County clerk, seeking more
than $18,000 in misappropriated funds. Elliot is also facing criminal charges following an investigation by the State Board
of Accounts and the Indiana State Police.

In April, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit heard arguments in a case that raises fundamental questions about
the patentability of human genes. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to take on a patent case in which the central issue
is the patentability of a medical process. Both cases could have far-reaching effects – in medicine, in law, and in
academia.

As the Indiana Supreme Court decides whether it will revisit a controversial ruling that’s generated public protest
since it came down in May, legislators are discussing what they might do to reduce the impact of the justices’ ruling
on resisting police entry into one’s home.

Indiana’s chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business issued a press release June 23, urging Indiana
businesses to prepare for I-9 audits. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has stepped up its audits of businesses nationwide
in an effort to crack down on the employment of unauthorized immigrant workers.

A change in state law that starts Friday allows non-violent offenders to have their criminal records sealed for misdemeanor
and Class D felonies. An Indianapolis man is already filing a petition asking the Marion Superior Court to limit access to
records involving two money conversion convictions.

Thousands of federal inmates nationally and more than 200 from Indiana could get time shaved off their prison terms for crack-cocaine
convictions, after the U.S. Sentencing Commission voted to make reductions retroactive starting later this year.